SAN DIEGO – Tom Tupa never looked so fresh and relaxed as he did yesterday, lounging at his table during the Super Bowl media session.

Tupa looked years removed from the horrible year he endured last season with the Jets, battling injuries, poor production and a special-teams coach who couldn’t wait to unload him.

Shortly after the Jets jettisoned the veteran punter from their roster, Tupa was scooped up by the Buccaneers as a free agent.

And look at him now – readying himself to punt in the Super Bowl for the second time in his career.

“Made the right choice, I guess,” Tupa said in an obvious understatement.

When asked of his relationship with Jet special-teams coach Mike Westhoff, Tupa lost the smile on his face for a moment and said, “I don’t even want to talk about that guy. Change the subject to something better.”

Later in the conversation, though, Tupa said, “Some people thought I was done. I knew I wasn’t. So to have had a successful year is very reassuring. Last year was just a long year. It seemed like five years in just that one year.”

Tupa began the 2001 season coming off surgery for a hernia. When he tried to come back too soon, he tore some scar tissue and developed a hip pointer.

It all resulted in a balky season, as he averaged only a 38.4-yard gross and a 32-yard net – far from his 42.8-yard gross and 35.4-yard net this season with Tampa Bay.

“I can look back on it and laugh about it now,” Tupa said.

Making matters even more appealing and potentially compelling is the fact that Tupa’s one-year contract with Tampa expires after the Super Bowl, making him a free agent.

Though he said he expects to be back with Tampa next season, a former boss of his who happens to like him – a guy named Bill Parcells – might be seeking a punter for his newest team, Dallas.